LurkerX

Funny how clubs can have such different personalities in this regard. Some places you have to take the initiative. Others you can't even get your first drink in hand before being asked to buy a dance. This is a lot easier to handle at $5 a dance clubs (those few that remain). I find that declining a private after a $5 sampler doesn't seem to bother them... they at least got the five, and if it's someone I'm not that interested in, she probably won't bug me again anyway.

I just act like a really boring dude. They usually get the hint if you don't make eye contact... and only answer questions, but don't offer any to keep a conversation going. It helps to sit at the bar, you can start talking to the bartender instead.

Drinks are usually priced with .25 or .50 on the end as an inducement to leave something for the bartender or waitress, and I can go along with that game. I'll leave an extra quarter or two for a waitress who broke $20 into ones for me. It's not fun to sit in a lightly populated club with nobody tipping though. Girls get cranky making no money, and it's hard to remain inconspicuous and avoid sales pressure. Fri/Sat are better days to sit and drink, if you're just scoping out a place.

Getting too specific can backfire on the reviewer... too many newbies pile on looking for so-n-so and prices go up. Oblique hints are usually enough.